Dark Moon, Black Moon or Lilith, this hypothetical point in astrology is known by several names. Some argue that the Dark Moon is one thing, Black Moon another and Lilith yet another. The reality is that there is an asteroid named Lilith, but it is not the same as the Dark or Black Moon. However, when used as a point in a birthchart, all three names appear valid as they all seem to describe the same thing.

This point arises due to the Moon's path around the ecliptic forming an axis of the perigee when the moon's orbit is closest to the earth and the apogee when its orbit is furthest from the earth. It is an empty area, a void created, an empty focus. Moving at about 40 degrees a year, the perigee is from where the path of the Dark Moon is calculated. It takes a little under nine years for it to complete its course.

In astrology, the Dark Moon is representative of the darker side of our nature, the negative side. It is the hidden depths that we know exist yet we prefer not to acknowledge. It is subtle on the surface, yet profound beneath. It is the foundations of our personality and the shocking truth that we often deny and project onto others instead. The refusal to see what is really within ourselves. The subtle refusal to see what part we may have played in some unpleasant drama of our lives, how we ourselves have manifested our fears. It is the kind of thing that we intrinsically know we have to deal with, confront the darker side in order to progress unhindered, yet most often we try to ignore. It is the deeper truth that we are forever in search of within ourselves. Probably the best use we can make of the dark moon is to explore our hidden depths, realise that we all have that darker side and go within to resolve that which ultimately hinders us.

The Dark Moon is representative of the negative traits of guilt, shame, hatred, envy, and vengefulness, often brought about by personal wounds and hurts. The true dark side of things we try to hide.

There is another side of the Dark Moon astrologically. Carl G Jung, the famous psychoanalyst described something that he called the "anima". The anima is a man's image of the ideal woman and also the feminine side of his personality. For a woman it is the image of the ideal man and the masculine side of her personality. So the dark moon in a birthchart will represent these ideals too.

It is also representative of the enchantress or the seducer, one who lures another by use of sexuality or devious means. The kind who tempts another by implying that the grass is greener on the other side, that they can "rescue" someone, but it is in reality for their own selfish gain.

The Dark Moon, Lilith, also has associations with motherhood, like her counterpart the Moon. With Lilith however, the instinctive nurturing is replaced by a strong protection of her offspring to the point that she would kill if necessary any that threatened them or caused them harm. She is also reactive against the ties involved with motherhood and the emptiness that mothers sometimes feel by isolation and the perceived lack of individuality that accompanies it.

These things do not only apply to women, they apply to men as well, as the Black Moon is also their feminine side.

The manner in which the Dark Moon plays out will be of the character of the sign in which it is posited and with over tones of the ruling planet of that sign. For example, if your Dark Moon is in Aries, it will act in the manner of Aries with over tones of Mars.

If you don't know where your Dark Moon/Lilith is, there is an online ephemeris where you can input your birth date and time, and it will give you a list of all your planetary placements. It includes both the mean and true Dark Moon as well as many of the asteroids, including Chiron.

For the Planet Selection type in: AB This will give both the mean and true Dark/Black Moon/Lilith positions.

For the Output type in: tPZS

The time needs to be entered in Universal Time (GMT) and entered in under Other Options in the format of: -ut22:30 for example for a time of 10:30pm UT

There is a website that has quite in-depth information about the Dark Moon, explaining what this point is with diagrams. It also gives chart examples and an appropriate one for the Dark Moon/Lilith in action. It is the chart of Marianne Bachmeier who became famous when she shot her daughter's murderer in a courtroom.